My son is 8. I just recently noticed that he has pubic hair coming in so we took him to the doctor. He ordered some blood tests that just came back today. Everything that he checked for were in "normal limits" which means that the wants to move forward with more testing--i.e. renal sonogram (tomorrow morning) and then a CT and MRI of the brain. All of these tests are looking for possible tumors--either on the kidneys, adrenal glands, or in the brain. I am scared out of my mind right now. I've been looking everywhere for information on "precocious puberty" and/or premature puberty but I haven't found anything that gives me information about him showing signs of puberty (pubic hair) but having no sign of hormones in his blood... Has anyone else experienced something similar with their boys? Thanks so much...

Thanks for your Reply!

3 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Premature PubertyMy son is 8. I just recently noticed that he has pubic hair coming in so we took him to the doctor. He ordered some blood tests that just came back today. Everything that he checked for were in "normal limits" which means that the wants to move forward with more testing--i.e. renal sonogram (tomorrow morning) and then a CT and MRI of the brain. All of these tests are looking for possible tumors--either on the kidneys, adrenal glands, or in the brain. I am scared out of my mind right now. I've been looking everywhere for information on "precocious puberty" and/or premature puberty but I haven't found anything that gives me information about him showing signs of puberty (pubic hair) but having no sign of hormones in his blood... Has anyone else experienced something similar with their boys? Thanks so much...

Bottom line: if it's just pubic hair, it's not puberty. Many people (incl docs, I will say) don't seem to understand this. BUT if it is truly early puberty (which includes increasing height velocity, enlarging testicles, and enlarging penis) then a thorough evaluation is needed. Though girls with early puberty rarely have an identifiable cause (and actually 8 y/o wouldn't be early in a girl) boys who truly begin puberty early are fairly likely to have something going on that causes it.

Bottom line: if it's just pubic hair, it's not puberty. Many people (incl docs, I will say) don't seem to understand this. BUT if it is truly early puberty (which includes increasing height velocity, enlarging testicles, and enlarging penis) then a thorough evaluation is needed. Though girls with early puberty rarely have an identifiable cause (and actually 8 y/o wouldn't be early in a girl) boys who truly begin puberty early are fairly likely to have something going on that causes it.

WebMD Special Sections

The opinions expressed in WebMD Communities are solely those of the User, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. Communities are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. Some of these opinions may contain information about treatments or uses of drug products that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment.

Do not consider Communities as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your care plan or treatment. WebMD understands that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource, but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.